LONDON: Calls to boycott TikTok in 抖阴短视频 have intensified since the launch of a campaign accusing the video platform of unjustly censoring and banning Saudi accounts expressing positive views about the Kingdom.
The momentum behind the boycott has grown as concerns over TikTok鈥檚 alleged algorithm manipulation and biased treatment continue to provoke outrage among the platform鈥檚 Saudi user base.
Many users have turned to alternative social platforms to denounce TikTok鈥檚 alleged restricting of pro-Saudi content, with the trending hashtag #BoycottTiktok accompanied by posts urging Saudis to delete the app.
One X user, @ayedarini, urged others to boycott the app, claiming the platform is engaging in a 鈥渨ar against us.鈥
The user added: 鈥淚t has become clear that it is targeting Saudi accounts and promoting everything against them and their country. Boycotting it has become a duty for every Saudi.鈥
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鈥 廿賷丕丿 (@ayedarini)
A recent post by @X_Tiktok_, a dedicated profile advocating for the platform鈥檚 ban in the Kingdom, expressed strong disapproval of TikTok鈥檚 鈥渦nacceptable鈥 and 鈥渁busive鈥 behavior, pledging to persist in its campaign against the platform.
鈥淭ikTok still continues its malicious bias with its violating policies on Saudi users鈥 posts, especially national clips,鈥 the post said. 鈥湺兑醵淌悠 remains a red line and the Saudi people remain strong and strict in their defense of their country, religion and leadership.鈥
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鈥 丨賲賱丞 賲賯丕胤毓丞 丕賱鬲賷賰 鬲賵賰 (@X_Tiktok_)
Influential social media personalities and celebrities have lent their support to the campaign, leveraging their substantial followings to amplify the message and motivate others to join the boycott. The Saudi private sector has also responded to the boycott鈥檚 impact.
Citing a source close to the Saudi First Division League earlier in November, Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported that the the second tier of professional football in 抖阴短视频 had cut off its relationship with TikTok due to the platform鈥檚 alleged actions against Saudi content.
Popular social media news channel The Saudi Post announced on Thursday the cessation of its publications and the closure of all its accounts on the platform.
TikTok issued a statement on Wednesday, denying allegations of restricting Saudi content and dismissing the campaign as a 鈥渃oordinated action.鈥
The app said in a statement: 鈥淭he rumors regarding TikTok removing content related to 抖阴短视频 are not true. We strongly reject these allegations that are inconsistent with our policies and values.
鈥淲e strongly reject the deliberate smear campaigns that are practiced on our employees and partners and threaten their security and safety.鈥
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賳丨賳 賮賷 鬲賷賰 鬲賵賰 賳毓鬲夭 亘賲噩鬲賲毓賳丕 賮賷 丕賱賲賲賱賰丞 丕賱毓乇亘賷丞 丕賱爻毓賵丿賷丞 丕賱匕賷 賷毓丿 賲氐丿乇 廿賱賴丕賲 賱賱廿亘丿丕毓 賮賷 賲禺鬲賱賮 丕賱賲噩丕賱丕鬲. 丕賯乇兀 亘賷丕賳賳丕 丕賱乇爻賲賷 亘卮兀賳 丕賱丕丿毓丕亍丕鬲 丕賱兀禺賷乇丞 賵賰賷賮 賳賯賵賲 亘丿毓賲 賲噩鬲賲毓賳丕 亘丕爻鬲賲乇丕乇.
鈥 TikTok MENA (@TikTokMENA)
Political analyst and media personality Salman Al-Ansari commented on the boycott, saying that the platform鈥檚 statement lacked any 鈥渃ommitment to corrective measures,鈥 which would only escalate the campaign.
This year, TikTok reported having 26 million active users in 抖阴短视频, positioning it as the second most popular social platform after YouTube.
Data indicates that the boycott has resulted in a decline in the number of Saudi TikTok users. According to Google Trends, the popularity of the term 鈥淭ikTok鈥 has decreased by 25 percent since the campaign began.
In an effort to rebuild trust, TikTok launched a dedicated hashtag page for Saudi content on its platform.
Despite these measures, the boycott is gaining momentum, transforming into a symbol of public discontent and a defense of 抖阴短视频.
The campaign鈥檚 uncertain impact on TikTok鈥檚 user base and the platform鈥檚 reputation highlights the growing power of collective action by social media users, an area in which TikTok has faced scrutiny.
In the last few years, TikTok and parent company ByteDance have faced intense criticism for handling sensitive user data, leading to calls for a ban in the US.
In November, congress members, activists and tech investors renewed demands for a TikTok ban, alleging bias in content related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Nepal last month announced a full ban of TikTok in the country, saying that the Chinese-owned video-sharing platform was 鈥渄etrimental to social harmony.鈥
